New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas has some decisions to make. Big decisions. Like, career-altering decisions.
First, he must decide if he will stick with Sam Darnold at quarterback.
Second, he must decide what to do with the No. 2 pick overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. Douglas’ options include using it on a new franchise quarterback or trading down in the draft to stockpile picks.
NBC Sports’ Peter King thinks he knows what Douglas will do on both fronts. First, Darnold:
No team in the next 14 months has a better draft situation than the Jets. Currently, they own a decent piece of quarterback real estate in Sam Darnold. He’s worth, at least, a high second-round pick in this draft—39th overall to Carolina, maybe, or 40th to Denver, or 43rd to San Francisco. (The 49ers are my personal favorite.)
If the Jets send Darnold packing, they will need a new franchise quarterback.
Someone who knows Jets GM Joe Douglas told me the other day he’s pretty sure the Jets have not made their mind up about the quarterback, and Douglas could be swayed by the quality of offers for Darnold. We’ll see. Smart money says they stick at two, eschew Deshaun Watson, and draft (Zach) Wilson or their fave of the quarterbacks after Jacksonville takes Trevor Lawrence.
Lawrence, the Clemson quarterback, is expected to go No. 1 overall to the Jaguars. Other quarterbacks who could go in the first round include Ohio State’s Justin Fields, North Dakota State’s Trey Lance and Alabama’s Mac Jones.
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